Kainos kicks-off fifth CodeCamp to develop coding skills in NI students

Kainos, a leading provider of digital services and platforms, today opened its fifth summer CodeCamp for students aged 14-18. In a record year for applications and attendance, 200 students will spend the next two weeks honing their computing and development skills. CodeCamp 2017 is taking place at the Computer Science Building at Queen's University Belfast, which provides advanced computing facilities as well as creative workspaces and classrooms. Students will get the chance to experience the latest developments in technology as well as learning basic coding techniques. CodeCamp will provide an important benefit to those following science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects and related career paths. The camp will help students expand their knowledge of computer coding and develop their professional and business skills. The curriculum at CodeCamp features activities including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) demonstrations, app development, Raspberry Pi tutorials and breakout talks on a range of programming languages and technologies. Guest speakers will offer career advice and guidance, while Kainos' professional software engineers will provide mentoring for the up-and-coming coders attending. 'CodeCamp provides a unique opportunity for students to develop valuable skills before graduating from full-time education. It's also a platform to showcase the technology and software development talent that Northern Ireland is cultivating,' said Gemma Crothers, Tech Outreach manager at Kainos. 'Technology skills are essential for the next generation of entrepreneurs, developers and creatives, and it's important that organisations such as ours lead the way by supporting education in this area.' The first week will culminate in a Challenge Day, with attendees completing puzzles, timed coding challenges and mini-hacks to unlock prizes and treats. The second week of CodeCamp will conclude with prizes for the top individual and team contributions, and a celebration to mark CodeCamp's fifth birthday. 'CodeCamp has really sparked my interest! I love going to events where I can work with other people to make something and to work in a team with others,' said Sam Stuart, one of the 200 attendees at this year's event. 'I really enjoy attending events such as Kainos CodeCamp,' added attendee N?amh Agnew. 'They show me different ways to design things and teach me how to use new software and in my opinion, they are really fun to attend and are a great way to meet new people!' CodeCamp runs from 24 July 4 August 2017. For more information, please visit the CodeCamp website.